Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Apr 1: After virtually playing second fiddle in the State Government for three years, Bhartiya Janta Party in Jammu and Kashmir seems to have started flexing muscles or is at least trying to give such an impression for public consumption as State Working Committee of the saffron party today adopted a number of Resolutions, which may not be acceptable to the main ruling alliance partner PDP.
Besides, taking a stand contradictory to the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, BJP national vice-president and Incharge J&K State, Avinash Rai Khanna, who chaired the Working Committee meeting, made it clear that no talks can be held with Pakistan till it stops supporting terrorism.
The day long Working Committee meeting unanimously adopted the Resolutions seeking immediate withdrawal of all the FIRs registered during the Amarnath land row, constitution of J&K Minority Commission as committed by the State Government before the Supreme Court, constitution of a Commission for Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies, making functioning of State Public Service Commission transparent and accountable, settlement of West Pakistan refugees, establishment of Commission for reorganization of districts as per the demand of the people, etc.
Showing serious concern on systematic illegal settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Jammu and terming the same against national interests, the BJP Working Committee recommended to the Government to constitute a Commission headed by a sitting High Court Justice to inquire into the circumstances leading to the settlement and fix responsibility of persons involved in this ‘anti-national’ activity.
This is for the first time in last three years since coming to power that the BJP Working Committee has adopted such resolutions, which may raise eyebrows of the main coalition partner PDP.
However, taking a U-turn on CBI demand in Rassana incident of rape and murder of a minor girl, the Working Committee strongly condemned the heinous crime and observed that perpetrators of the crime be dealt with as per the provisions of law. Such crimes are anti-human and any effort to communalise them needs to be condemned unequivocally, says the BJP Resolution.
The Working Committee also adopted Resolution seeking political reservation to STs, extending policy of inter-district recruitment to STs as well, adopting 85th amendment of the Indian Constitution in J&K for extending benefit of promotions to the SC/ST in Government services, extend reservation for OBCs and honourable return of Kashmiri Pandits and other minorities.
Besides, the Working Committee also resolved demanding immediate elections to Panchayats and Local Bodies , abolishing Toll tax at Lakhanpur, incentives to the Industrial units at par with NE States, zero percent GST on Apricot grown in Ladakh, review of the existing LAHDC Act, enhancing compensation for acquisition of land for Ring Road projects, compensation to the farmers, whose land lies beyond the border fencing, advertising all vacant posts in different departments for recruitment on fast track mode and constitution of Tawi Development Board.
The day-long Working Committee meeting was held at Suchetgarh to review the policies and discussions on present and future strategies of BJP in the State. Union MoS in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, State BJP president Sat Sharma, Dy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, MP Shamsher Singh Manhas, MLC Ashok Khajuria. State general secretary (Org ) Ashok Kaul, Speaker Kavinder Gupta and all the Ministers, MLAs, MLCs, Chairpersons, Vice-Chairpersons, all State office bearers, State Working Committee members and senior leaders attended the meeting.
Avinash Rai Khanna in his address, asserted that till the time Pakistan stops supporting terrorism, no talks can be held with the neighbouring country. Exhorting the party leadership to vociferously project the Jammu centric and nationalist issues, he said that acts like raising of pro-Pakistan slogans in the Legislative Assembly must be appropriately countered as was done by BJP MLA R S Pathania.
He termed working committee meeting as the liaison agent in the organization and the Government. He said that in the past, only single family knew of the amount of funds received from Centre and its area of expenditure which is now replaced with hundred percent transparency in financial matters.
He also prompted all the leaders to celebrate the deeds of local heroes and youth icons.
He stressed on the importance of holding programmes like “Mann Ki Baat” on every single Booth as the booth activist is in direct touch with the common masses.
Sat Sharma, in his presidential address, mentioned successful completion of 3 years of alliance Government in the State and listed its achievements.
Dr Jitendra Singh emphasized on strong party position in every region of Nation. He embarked that the definition of anti-incumbency has been changed in Gujrat by record 6th time win by BJP. He said that BJP under leadership of PM Narendra Modi has changed working atmosphere of political system to pure and concentrated effort. He exhorted the party leaders to counter alleged miscampaign steered by opposition who are themselves drenched in the scams from head to toe.
Dr Nirmal Singh enumerated achievements of the State Government and spoke on the issues of increasing employment, improved health structure, National Highways, education, casual labour, zero tolerance for militancy, West Pak refugees, mega fruit park etc. He also said that J&K is working to fulfill commitment for 100 percent electrification of villages.
Ashok Kaul threw light on the organizational matters and prompted all the party leaders to make concentrated effort for conducting all party programmes at booth level.
State general secretary Dr Narinder Singh read the draft of political resolution before all the BJP leaders present in the meeting after which the discussions and amendments on the draft were sought.
Jugal Kishore Sharma elaborated all the issues enlisted in the presented draft of political resolution. He also spoke on the achievements of Central and State Governments.
Shamsher Singh Manhas seconded the resolution while discussing on all the issues presented by the leaders present in the meeting.
Report of various development and organizational programmes was also sought from all the District presidents and Morcha State presidents.
Earlier welcome speech was given by District president Brijeshwar Rana. Sanjay Baru read the minutes of meetings of last working committee meeting held at Srinagar.
State BJP general secretary Pawan Khajuria conducted the stage proceedings.